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Sunday Skate Race suggestion..

We tested this morning on the course. Things are hard but the groomers have done a great job preparing the classic tracks and making the downhills manageable. Our compliments. Where there is a skate lane, it was little ball-bearings pressed flat. Fast! Should be fun tomorrow.

The rain was not as damaging as expect given the forecast earlier this week. We've had much worse, closer to race time. There was a fairly good base before the rain so the while the course might be modified somewhat it might not be all parkway. We'll see in time.

It looks like the air temperature will fall below 0C around 7pm. The snow will start to freeze well before that but it will be a few more hours until the water drains out and the big machines can go to work. They should be able to start grooming overnight and finish well before race time. They will need to till like crazy which takes time and fuel. Lets hope they don't skimp and we get a softened surface with good deep tracks. Should be possible given the time frame.

Temperature will drop constantly overnight to -12C at race time so the track will set up very firm and will be abrasive. You will need a good binder for Saturday. There's a little snow (~1-2cm) in the forecast overnight, so hopefully the grooming mixes this new snow in with the tilled ice. There's nothing worse than a thin sciff of fresh cold snow on an icy base! It makes for slow glide and tricky grip waxing. Lets assume they will mix it in. Now for waxing..

Grip Wax

Vauhti Super Base Binder ironed in and cooled slightly. Then add on Vauhti Teho green or blue fluor kilister and iron in as well. Cool the skis and cover with 2-3 layers of Vauhti fluor orange or Vauhti K-line orange. Finally cover this with one thin layer of Vauhti blue fluor or blue K-line.